Other Ways to Say Ugly

Hello English learners, and welcome to a new lesson! The word ugly is very common, but if you want to sound more advanced and natural in English, there are many other words and expressions you can use instead. Some are more polite, some more colourful, and some quite humorous. Let’s explore them together.

Synonyms for Ugly

If you want to expand your vocabulary beyond the simple word ugly, there are many synonyms that range from polite to very strong. Some are suitable for everyday conversation, while others are more dramatic and expressive. Here are some useful alternatives you can use to describe people, places, or things in a richer way:

Word	Meaning	Example Sentence
Unattractive	not good-looking; the polite alternative to ugly.	The building is old and unattractive.
Plain	ordinary, not beautiful, but not offensive.	She’s a plain woman, but very kind.
Unappealing	not pleasant to look at or think about.	The meal looked unappealing, so I didn’t eat it.
Hideous	extremely ugly, shocking.	The monster wore a hideous mask.
Repulsive	very unpleasant, causing disgust.	The sight of the spoiled food was repulsive.
Grotesque	so ugly it looks unnatural or distorted.	The statue had a grotesque face.
Unsightly	something that looks unpleasant, especially in public.	The rubbish left in the street was unsightly.
Foul	disgusting in appearance or smell.	The bathroom was in a foul state.
Monstrous	terrifyingly ugly or deformed.	The creature was monstrous in size and shape.
Ghastly	extremely unpleasant to look at, shocking.	He had a ghastly scar on his cheek.

Idiomatic Expressions

Native speakers often use idioms to talk about appearance in a colourful and humorous way. Instead of directly saying someone or something is ugly, these expressions add personality and soften the message. Some are light-hearted, while others are witty or even a little cheeky. Let’s look at a few common idioms you can use:

Expression	Meaning	Example sentence
Easy on the eyes (opposite)	if someone isn’t easy on the eyes, they’re unattractive.	The hotel was cheap but not easy on the eyes.
Looks like a dog’s dinner	looks messy or unattractive.	My hair looks like a dog’s dinner today!
Beauty is only skin-deep	appearance doesn’t matter as much as character.	He may be ugly, but beauty is only skin-deep.
Not much to look at	not physically attractive.	The cottage is not much to look at, but it’s cosy inside.
Face only a mother could love	humorous way to say someone is very unattractive.	The poor dog had a face only a mother could love.

Polite alternatives

Sometimes, saying someone or something is ugly can sound far too direct — even rude. In English, we often prefer softer or more diplomatic expressions, especially in polite conversation, professional settings, or when we want to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. These alternatives allow you to describe appearance in a gentle way while still getting your meaning across.

Expression	Meaning	Example sentence
Not very good-looking	a gentle way to say someone isn’t attractive, without sounding rude.	He’s not very good-looking, but he’s extremely talented.
Not the most attractive	a polite understatement to soften the criticism.	The town is not the most attractive, but it has friendly people.
Lacking charm	suggests someone or something doesn’t have beauty or appeal.	The new office building is practical but lacking charm.
Plain-looking	neutral way to describe someone ordinary in appearance.	She was plain-looking, but her smile lit up the room.
Unremarkable	not special or striking in looks; neutral.	His face was rather unremarkable, though pleasant.
Nothing special	informal, gentle way to say something is ordinary.	The meal was nothing special, but it filled us up.
Not easy on the eye	mildly negative, but often used in casual or humorous contexts.	That wallpaper is not easy on the eye!
A little rough around the edges	polite way to suggest someone looks untidy or not polished.	The cottage is a little rough around the edges, but cosy.
Not exactly a beauty	light, often humorous understatement.	The car is not exactly a beauty, but it still works.
Looks past its best	polite way to say something has aged and lost beauty.	The building looks past its best, but it has character.

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Other Ways to Say Ugly

Published by My Lingua Academy on 5 Sep 20255 Sep 2025